Musa Qaleh, located in the north of Helmand province, has been under Taliban control since early this year. Troops from the Afghan National Army have been leading the operation on the ground, supported by UK and US air and ground capabilities.

Speaking this afternoon (Monday 10 December 2007), Lieutenant Colonel Richard Eaton, the UK military spokesman in southern Afghanistan, told BBC News 24 that UK troops are working hard to reach their objective:

"There has been some confusion surrounding Musa Qaleh today," he said. "A news release went out in Kabul which I think was confused in some translation between Pashtu and English but it stated we had retaken Musa Qaleh and we were reported as being in the middle of Musa Qaleh.

"That's not actually the case, we are in the outskirts of Musa Qaleh but the battle to take Musa Qaleh is still going on. Once we have succeeded in driving the Taliban out, that's the time when we get on with the political engagements, which is ultimately the solution to the insurgency, improve the security situation and then allow reconstruction to start.

"We knew that it was going to be a difficult engagement to take on and we didn't anticipate it falling straight away. The Commander is content with the way his plan is unfolding at the moment and I think we will see that unfold over the next couple of days. Suffice it to say that he believes that we are on schedule at the moment.

"I wouldn't like to put a time schedule on it because sometimes these things can change very quickly and we are dealing with an enemy and will respond to how that enemy behaves so wouldn't like to predict what they will do. But we have seen in the past suddenly the Taliban realise that they are over-matched.

"They know they're not going to win and they slip away. Ultimately our aim is not to defeat the Taliban. Our aim is to win the insurgency. That means retaking Musa Qaleh and it then means convincing the people that are in the town that their long-term interests are best served by the government rather than by the insurgency."

ISAF also issued the following statement:

"Afghan National Army (ANA) forces and ISAF soldiers have entered the outskirts of the main part of Musa Qaleh today (Monday 10 December 2007). Currently, Afghan and ISAF forces are consolidating their positions. Further activities will be dictated by the security situation on the ground but progress will be deliberate, appropriate and measured.

"The two principles guiding us are the safety of the local civilian population and the security of our own troops in respect to Improvised Explosive Devices and mines. Further information on our progress will be released as it develops."